Concern over proposed location for train support facility

Cessnock Councillor Dale Troy will move a notice of motion at this week's meeting calling on Council to push for a new location for a Pacific National train support facility.

The company wants to develop the 110-million dollar facility on a 49-hectare site at Greta, with plans currently before the Department of Planning.

The facility would service Pacific National 's fleet of locomotives and employ 450 people.

But Councillor Troy says he's been contacted by a number of residents concerned about traffic, noise and other environmental impacts.

"There's many issues regarding this wether it be environmental or noise, light spillage, dust," he said.

"I think it will be unacceptable and quite silly be putting in the middle of potentially 20 thousand residents over the next 10 or 15 years with major land releases like Huntlee, Anvil Creek and the existing communities of Greta and Branxton."

" You know it's not smart planning and it needs to be moved."

Councillor Troy says many Greta residents are concerned they don't have a say in whether the train support facility is approved.

"I've had residents ringing me and then I thought I better go out to Greta and Branxton and do a bit of doorknocking and find out exactly how much they know and are they aware of the full impacts of the development," he said.

"And what I found out was that they weren't."

"I also found out they were quite annoyed with the process."

"They're saying we can't go to you guys on council because you're not looking after it."